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Recipe: Roasted squash and cranberry quinoa (with video)

Rooted Nutrition chef Andrea Potter prepares a healthy, easy Roasted Squash and Cranberry Quinoa recipe that can be used as a side dish or a light lunch. Potter also demonstrates how to prepare the squash.
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Makes about four cups

This dish is warming and wonderful as a side dish, makes a light lunch and is just as nice chilled as a salad.

Ingredients

1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed well or soaked for a few hours and drained

1 cup water

1 small butternut or medium to large delicata squash, peeled (if butternut) and cubed into 1” pieces

Olive oil to drizzle on squash

1/2 cup naturally sweetened cranberries, or dried sour cherries

1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds

2 Tbsp Apple cider vinegar or lemon juice

1/3 cup olive oil

sea salt to taste

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350F

• Roast squash by drizzling the diced pieces with olive oil and baking for about 40 minutes, or just until pieces are tender

• Place pumpkin seeds in a pan and gently roast over the heat or roast in the oven until just browned

• Put quinoa and water in a rice maker or medium pot and cook until the water absorbs, about 20 minutes

• In a bowl, add the apple cider vinegar and olive oil, whisk slightly until emulsified

• Add the warm quinoa to the bowl with the dressing, add the roasted squash and toasted pumpkin seeds

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